Wrapping a soft, irregularly shaped object like a stuffed animal presents unique challenges compared to the simple geometry of a traditional box. The plush material and protruding limbs resist the flat plane of wrapping paper, often resulting in a messy, bulky presentation. Achieving a smooth, professional finish requires specific preparation and advanced folding techniques. This guide offers practical methods to transform a floppy toy into a cleanly wrapped gift.
Shaping the Toy for Easier Wrapping
Before attempting any folding, the first step involves stabilizing the toy’s shape to reduce kinetic movement during wrapping. Loose appendages, like ears or legs, can be gently drawn inward and secured close to the main body mass using fine twine or small rubber bands. This technique minimizes sharp protrusions that could tear the paper. Containing the object’s volume into a single, denser unit simplifies the subsequent application of the flat paper sheet.
A secondary technique involves using a quick, loose lining of tissue paper or a thin, flexible gift bag to create a temporary, contained shape. This soft shell acts as a buffer, ensuring the plush fibers do not directly catch the adhesive tape or shift unpredictably during measurement. For larger figures, a custom-cut piece of rigid cardstock can be placed under the toy to serve as a supportive base. This foundation provides a flat plane, improving stability and making it easier to manage the object.
The Custom Wrapping Technique
The process begins with precise measurement, which differs from standard box wrapping due to the object’s curvature. Instead of the typical one-and-a-half times length rule, measure the paper’s width to cover approximately two-thirds of the object’s circumference. This ratio ensures enough material to overlap for a seam without creating excessive bulk during folding. The goal is to minimize the amount of material that must be compressed at the ends of the object.
Once the main body is secured, managing the excess paper at the rounded ends requires a specific fan-folding or pleating method. This technique involves creating small, uniform vertical folds, approximately half an inch wide, radiating from the object’s center point. Each successive fold is pressed firmly against the one before it, effectively gathering and compressing the redundant paper. This action allows the flat paper to conform smoothly to the convex curvature of the stuffed animal’s head or feet.
For areas with severe concavity, such as the neck or the space between a leg and the body, the paper will naturally resist conforming without tearing. To resolve this tension, use a sharp blade to make small, strategic relief slits into the paper, extending only to the object’s surface. These small incisions release the pressure and allow the paper’s edges to overlap neatly, facilitating a tighter, more controlled application. This technique avoids forcing the material, which causes large wrinkles or creases.
Using two or three smaller, strategically cut pieces of paper is more efficient than forcing one large sheet over a complex, multi-limbed toy. For example, the main torso can be wrapped first, followed by separate, tailored sections for the head or large limbs. The seams where these smaller pieces meet can later be cleverly disguised beneath ribbons or decorative elements, resulting in a cleaner overall finish.
Hiding Seams and Adding Flair
Achieving a polished look involves carefully concealing any visible adhesive and gathered paper. Using double-sided tape or clear craft tape allows seams to be secured internally, preventing the reflective shine of standard cellophane tape. Where paper is overlapped or gathered, ensuring the seam falls on the least visible surface, such as the underside, maintains the integrity of the pattern.
The pleated or gathered areas at the ends of the gift, which are unavoidable when wrapping round objects, can be transformed into intentional decorative features. Wide, opaque ribbon or a pre-made bow can be strategically secured over these compressed folds, effectively drawing the eye away from any imperfection. Positioning the paper pattern, such as aligning a face or specific image, should be done prior to folding to ensure it remains centered despite the subsequent deformation.